GOP’s Senate majority shrinks with Jones sworn into office

Vice President Mike Pence, right, shakes hands with Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., left, after administering the Senate oath of office during a mock swearing in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber to Jones, with his wife Louise Jones, second from right, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. They are joined by their son, Carson Jones, center. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

WASHINGTON — Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama was sworn into office Wednesday, shrinking the Senate’s Republican majority and leading lawmakers of both parties to plead for more bipartisanship as Congress tackles pressing issues in advance of the 2018 midterm elections.

Vice President Mike Pence administered the Senate’s oath of office to Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, and to former Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Sen. Al Franken, who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Two former vice presidents, both Democrats, were there to support the Senate’s newest members as the GOP majority narrowed to 51-49. In future party-line votes, Republicans cannot afford more than one defection.

Jones was escorted to the Senate chamber by former Vice President Joseph Biden, who had headlined Jones’ campaign kickoff rally. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., escorted Smith to the Senate floor. She becomes the 22nd woman currently serving in the Senate, a record.

Mondale recalled that he “went through something like this in the good old days.” In 1964, Mondale was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy created when Hubert Humphrey was elected vice president.

Democrats voiced hopes that the narrowing of the GOP majority would lead to more collaboration.

“We are moving closer and closer to parity, closer and closer to one another, and I hope closer and closer in solving problems,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “I think that was a message of the Alabama election, among other things. The American people want to see us work together.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Jones will “have big shoes to fill.” McConnell also noted that lawmakers from both parties wanted more “comity, collegiality and bipartisanship.”

Jones, 63, represents one of the most conservative states in the nation. He will be under pressure to find some areas of agreement with Republicans and has cited the funding of infrastructure improvements as one possible avenue.

“There are a lot of people who didn’t vote for me, and I hope they will keep an open mind because I am going to try to be the best senator I can for the state to try to move the state forward as a whole and not just one particular group or philosophy,” he said.

Jones is taking the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and before that the man Jones considered his mentor, the late Sen. Howell Heflin. Jones worked for Heflin as a staffer after graduating from law school in 1979. Heflin was the last Democrat to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate.

During the swearing-in, Jones wore a pair of Heflin’s cufflinks. Jones plans to place one of Heflin’s cigar boxes in his office.

“To be able to have done the things I’ve done and end up back here is just a remarkable thing,” Jones said in an interview before taking the oath of office. “I am looking forward to getting my feet wet and getting to know my colleagues and jumping into the action.”

Jones said he is hopeful that he comes to the Senate with a “little bit of a voice” because of the attention on the Alabama race.

Jones made it clear during the campaign that he was opposed to the GOP’s efforts to repeal President Barack Obama’s signature health care overhaul, the Affordable Care Act. He said the efforts would drive up costs and lead to the closure of more rural health care facilities in the state. “That is a nonstarter,” Jones said.

Smith, 59, served as chief of staff to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton before becoming his No. 2 when the previous lieutenant governor declined to seek a second term.

Smith is known largely as a liberal Democrat who has maintained connections to the state’s politically powerful business community.

Smith called her swearing-in ceremony “invigorating.” She is angling for a spot on the Senate’s Agriculture Committee ahead of an expected push for a new farm bill this year and eager to vote to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, for which funding lapsed last year.

“It is not anything that I planned for. I am not a person who has spent a lot of time planning about what office I want to run for,” said Smith, who is running to maintain the Senate seat in a November special election.